Hazlegrove Prep School welcomes back Olympic gold medallist

Hazlegrove Prep School pupils got the chance to hold a real Olympic gold medal when old Hazlegrovian, Peter Wilson, revisited his old school to open The Wilson Centre, the school's renamed LSU Department.

Peter Wilson MBE, is an Olympic gold medallist in double trap shooting. He represented Great Britain in the 2011 European Championships earning a silver medal in the team double trap and the 2012 Summer Olympics earning a gold medal in the double trap. In the Olympics, he scored 188 out of a 200 possible hits.

Now retired from the sport, Wilson is focussing on his personal life and coaching. Wilson returned to his old school to unveil the plaque placed in his honour created by fellow old Hazlegrovian and stone engraver, Toby Newton.

Hosted by Headmaster, Ed Benbow and his wife, Amanda, Wilson was joined by his parents along with Governor, Christopher Birrell and his wife as well as his old teachers and current Hazlegrove pupils who were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear an Olympian speak and to have a close-up of his winning 2012 Gold Olympic medal.

Susan Cranfield, who was Peter’s LSU teacher during his time with Hazlegrove, attended and provided an uplifting speech to the ceremony attendees and pupils. She said: "Hazlegrove has long accepted neurodiversity and one school inspector told me that you can judge a successful school by its LSU - Hazlegrove is living proof of that."

She went on to quote Mark Wilkinson OBE, who passed away recently who said: "Dyslexia brings more gifts than glitches. If you have it, flaunt it. When you stumble, hold out a hand. Help will come. When you succeed – lend a hand to others, with humility."

Headmaster, Ed Benbow, said: "Today we were privileged to welcome old Hazlegrovian and Olympic gold medallist Peter Wilson back to Hazlegrove, for the official opening of the Wilson Centre, our superb LSU department set within our state-of-the-art teaching and learning centre. He gave a moving and inspiring talk to a lot of our pupils and staff, all of whom got to see his medal, too!"